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What is a Merchant Service Provider?

If you accept debit or credit cards at your business, you’ll need to choose a merchant service provider. This is a company that provides transaction services for your business; i.e.: helps you process card payments so that you can complete a sale.

There’s really no way around working with a merchant service provider if you want to open up your payment options to credit and debit cards. Whether you opt to have a traditional credit card transaction machine in your store, use a cloud-based, virtual terminal credit card service, or take a mobile, portable ecommerce credit card processing app with you on the go, you have to work with the company that supports these services.

Why You Care

If you’re currently only accepting cash at your location, you’re missing out on serious opportunity to increase sales. Most people don’t carry much cash with them, and these people are currently excluded from shopping in your store. But if you begin accepting in-person and online payment through credit cards and debit cards, you encourage people who only use plastic to shop with you.

What to Look for in a Merchant Service Provider

It’s important as a small business to find the best payment gateway and best service provider for your specific needs. Some providers specialize in specific industries, like restaurants, while others serve a more general market. How important is it to you to have a transaction processing company that specializes in your field?

You may need other services that a merchant service provider offers. It’s easiest, naturally, to find a provider that offers all these services in one place, rather than piecemealing a solution together. For example, if in addition to needing a wireless credit card terminal you also need payroll disbursement and identity verification services, shop around for a provider that offers all of these services. You may even qualify for a discount for bundling services together.

Understanding Processing Fees

When making your credit card payment gateway comparison, it’s important to take a look at what and how you will be charged for merchant services. Typically, you will have three types of charges:

An up-front fee to start services

A recurring monthly fee

Per-transaction fees

The first two tend to be a flat rate, and may be negotiable, depending on the company. The per-transaction fees are typically a percent of the transaction plus a flat fee. For example, you might be required to pay 2.25% of a transaction, plus an additional $.15 for each transaction. It’s important to ask any card processing companies you’re considering when they take their fee. Is it a lump sum deducted from your account at the end of the month, or is it daily or weekly? Likewise, when do you get paid out for the transactions you’ve processed? This can greatly affect your cash flow, so know ahead of time what you’ll be charged and when you will have to pay it.

Choosing a Provider

Shop around to see what other service providers charge, but don’t shop on pricing alone. Look at the reputation of the company, services offered, and customer service. If you have a problem with your wireless credit card terminal, you want to know someone will pick up the phone, ready to assist you quickly, so that you can get back to accepting payments in your store.

You’ll likely be approached by merchant service provider salespeople looking to secure new business. This is a fine place to start, but expand your search online to find other companies that don’t need to send a SWAT team of sales folks to get you to sign up. Look for reviews of providers to see how other businesses like the services provided. Don’t be afraid to contact the company and ask lots of questions. After all, you want the best service for your company!

About Gene

Gene is a 19 year veteran of the electronic payments industry and has consulted with countless companies of all sizes. He has overseen large underwriting portfolios, directed IT staff, and currently serves as the Director of Business Development. Gene has appeared before the U.S. Congress to provide expert opinions regarding developing technology and transaction risks towards solutions for the payroll industry. You can find him on LinkedIn>.

We've been doing our ACH and credit card processing with ACH Payments for years. The thing I like best about the payment processing is that it’s all automated. You send a batch of ACH and credit cards and you get a file back that automatically posts all of the approved transactions directly to the customer’s account. Look ma, no hands! This is the best thing since sliced bread for the security industry as far as automating your back office goes.

The team at ACH Payments has been a breath of fresh air. They have gone beyond the boundaries of their core expertise and provided us with ideas and solutions towards success. I highly recommend discussing your needs with ACH Payments.

At Security Networks, we use automation wherever possible to accurately and cost effectively run our business. Using ACH Payments within our software enables complete automation of the payment process. Reconciliation is made easy and payment exceptions are handled as well. If you want to devote your time and energies to growing your business, you should use them as well.

About ACH Payments

ACH Payments has been providing e-telligent ACH payment processing solutions to thousands of businesses of all sizes for over 10 years. No matter what type of business circumstances or business environment are encountered, ACH Payments is always committed to meeting or exceeding the needs of our clients.

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